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06 October 2013

Former South Fulton Concerned Citizens President Benny Crane Renews Push for Cityhood

Georgia Unfiltered has learned that former South Fulton Concerned Citizens President Benny Crane is behind a new push for cityhood in unincorporated south Fulton County.

In a video posted on YouTube recently, Crane appeared at a community meeting, where he talked extensively about forming the city of South Fulton, even bringing a map with proposed city council districts to the forum.

Benny Crane, who previously ran for state Senate in 2009 and state Representative in 2012, was leader of the South Fulton Concerned Citizens; a pro-city group. Crane was the public face of the city of South Fulton campaign in 2007, speaking at numerous town hall meetings on the issue, and also granting interviews with local media. Voters, however, said no to the city of South Fulton in 2007 -- 85% to 15%.

Also appearing at this recent pro-city of South Fulton meeting were state Representatives Roger Bruce, Virgil Fludd, and Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts. All three elected officials seemed supportive of the renewed interest in incorporating south Fulton County.

"The truth be told," Bruce said of the renewed cityhood push, "is if we miss this opportunity, and we don't do it, someone else is going to do it and put us in a city, and it may not be the city you want to be in.

"Let's be for real about it," Bruce continued, "you could end up in College Park or East Point or wherever, but we're not going to see Fulton County stay unincorporated for much longer."

With an estimated population of 87,628, unincorporated south Fulton represents about 9.5% of the total Fulton County population. A wave of municipalization between 2005 and 2007 --resulting in the new cities of Chattahoochee Hills, Johns Creek, Milton, and Sandy Springs-- left south Fulton standing alone as the only unincorporated area in Georgia's largest county.

"I think we're headed in the right direction," Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts said of the proposed city of South Fulton. "I think it's just a matter of time now."

Residents of unincorporated south Fulton County can learn more about this new push for cityhood at a town hall meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 8 October 2013, from 6:30PM to 8:30PM, at the Burdette Park Gym (2945 Burdett Road, College Park, Georgia 30349).